Science and research budget allocations for financial year 15/16

World class research plays a key role in economic growth and the continued improvement to health and wellbeing of society. At a time of tight control over public spending, the Government continues to offer strong support for science and research.

We continue to protect the science ring fence in cash terms for financial year 15/16. In addition the Chancellor has previously announced a long term commitment to investment in science infrastructure of £1.1Bn in real terms to 2021 and increased investment for science with funding for Quantum Technologies and collaboration with emerging powers. This brings the overall investment in science and research to £5.8Bn(^1) in 15/16 - an increase in overall spending compared to recent years.

The below table shows the 15/16 resource and capital budget allocations from the ring fenced budget for science and research. We will be publishing further details of these allocations shortly.

### Financial Year 15/16 allocation to ringfenced science and research funding organisations

| Organisation | 15/16 RDEL allocation (£M) | 15/16 CDEL allocation (£M) | |--------------|---------------------------|---------------------------| | AHRC | 98.3 | 0 | | BBSRC | 351.2 | 71 | | ESRC | 153.2 | 25 | | EPSRC | 778.5 | 80 | | MRC | 580.3 | 36 | | NERC (core programme) | 260 | 35\* | | NERC (Antarctic logistics and infrastructure) | 29 | | | STFC (core programme) | 165.1 | 53.3 | | STFC (international subscriptions) | 127.5 | 27.3 | | STFC (large facilities) | 107.4 | 48.5 | | HEFCE QR | 1573.3 | N/A | | Contribution towards HEIF | 113 | N/A | | University research capital | Research Capital England | N/A | 117.3 | | HEI research capital (England) | | | 86.2 | | HEI Research Capital (Scotland) | | | 16.1 | | HEI Research Capital (Wales) | | | 3.7 | | HEI Research Capital (NI) | | | 1.7 | | RPIF (UK) | | | 100 |

(^1) Cash terms. | Organisation | 15/16 RDEL allocation (£M) | 15/16 CDEL allocation (£M) | |--------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------| | UK Space Agency | 170.2 | 158.1 | | Royal Society | 47.1 | N/A | | British Academy | 27.0 | N/A | | Academy of Engineering | 12.4 | N/A | | Academy of Medical Sciences | 0.47 | N/A | | International programme and Emerging Powers Fund | 79.2 | N/A | | Science & Society programme | 13.0 | N/A | | Government Office for Science | 2.8 | N/A | | Evidence and evaluation | 2.1 | N/A | | TOTAL ringfence science spend | 4691 | 859.2 | | Science capital spending for bodies outside the | N/A | 251 | | Ringfence for current spending | | | | TOTAL UK science spend | 4691 | 1110 |

\*Includes capital funding for (NERC) Antarctic Logistics and Infrastructure which will be partitioned in due course.

**Notes:**

- Figures include science funding announced in Autumn Statement 2013.
- For the first time we are funding the Academy of Medical Sciences. This does not reduce funding to other Academies.
- In addition to the capital allocated to ring fenced science and research funding bodies to maintain existing programmes a number of specific capital investments have been previously announced at recent fiscal events. These include a new super computer for the MET office, the NMO’s Advanced Metrology Lab, investment in medical research facilities by Dept of Health and managed by MRC (MRC Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative) and maintenance and development of the Atomic Energy Authority’s portfolio. This brings the science capital budget to £1.1Bn in 15/16.
- The funding for HEIF is the research contribution to the HEIF budget. HEFCE can decide to add additional funding from teaching budgets.
- The allocation for RPIF is the first year of a two year RPIF settlement.